Improvement in carpet-rag loopers



F. J. EGGER.

Carpet-Rag Loopers.

N0. 142,778. Patented September16,\1873.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR: /wf/ l Wa/MQW@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ J. EGGER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARPET-RAG LOOPERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,778, dated September 16, 1873 application filed July 18,1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANZ J osErn EGGER, of Springfield, in the county of Clarke and State of Ohio, have invented an Improved Carpet-Rag Looper, of which the following is a specification:

My improved rag-looper is provided with a.

clamp-screw, whereby it may be fixed to a table or readily detached.

The blade is adapted to slide within a groove in the back of the frame, and is secured by a thumb-screw, adapting it to be fastened in a projecting position for use, or to be slipped downward and fastened with the point within the groove of the frame, in which position it can do no injury.

The blade is made with a cutting-point and an eye, and with a latch, which is retracted by the external pressure of the cloth that is drawn over it, a lateral passage being thereby opened into the eye, through which the piece to be inserted may be slipped in sidewise, instead of threading its end through the eye in the usual manner.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved looper in position for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing the retracted position of the blade.

A represents a metallic frame, adapted to be ixed to a table, B, by a clamp-screw, C. The blade D is made to slide within a vertical groove or socket in the face of the frame, and is rmly held by a thumb-screw, E, passing through a threaded hole in the blade, and into either of the threaded apertures e o in the frame. The blade is formed with two outting-cdges, l d, terminating at the point, and with an eye, j', guarded by a latch, l, which is pivoted at p, and opens outward, a spring, s, exerting an outward pressure against its lower end, serving to keep it shut. The upper end of the latch is sharpened, so as to form a continuation of the cutting-edge, down nearly to the level of the pivot p. The heel of the latch has a greater lateral projection and does not cut.

The purpose of this construction is to cause the cloth to open the latch automatically when drawn down over the blade.. rI he heel of the latch occupies a notch, u, so as to prevent the cloth from catchin g underneath it.

The parts being fixed in the position shown in Figs. l and 2, the operator takes the strip of rag and the new piece which is to be looped onto the former, and draws them down over the blade, with the new or short strip under'- most, the blade piercing its own way through the rags, the eye f being opened by retraction of the latch Z, as shown by dotted lines in Fig'. l. The free end of the added or short piece is then passed laterally into the eye and the rags immediately drawn oft' the blade, the et'- fect of which is to draw the free end through both thicknesses and loop the strips together, so that when drawn tight they form the customary loop-knot.

. My implement possesses several advantages over those previously in use 5 among these advantages the following maybe named: First,

by having it attached rigidly to a table in the most convenient position for use, it leaves both hands of `the operator free to manipulate the rag strips, and yet it is readily detachable, so as to possess all the simplicity and convenience of an ordinary hand-looper. Second, the

manner of adjusting the blade and titting it in either its operative or inoperative position is valuable as depriving the machine of any dangerous orinconvenient character when it may remain fixed to the table and not in use, or may be packed away or laid down without care. Third, the mode of opening the eye to permit the lateral insertion of the cloth saves much time and trouble, which are required in the usual mode of twisting the end and threading it through the eye. It is better to have the screw threaded into the blade, as de scribed, so that it may not become detached from the blade when the latter is loosened for adjusting, but may serve as a handle for moving it.

The following is claimed as new The rag-looper constructed as herein described, with a blade, D, provided With a pivoted spring-latch, l, operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

FRANZ JOSEPH EGGER.

Witnesses:

J. J. SMITH, .TonN LENDENMAN. 

